Press.



P. UPHAM.

PRESS. l APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24| 19H.

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r i l 1 TE il PRESTON UPHAM, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG-NOR TOINTERNATIONAL PAVEMENT COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATIONO13' CON- NECTICUT.

PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led August 24, 1911. Serial No. 645,794.

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, PRESTON UPHAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, Suffolk county, State of Massachusetts, haveinvented an Improvement in Presses, of which the following description,in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likecharacters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention, one embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and herein described, relates to certain improvements inpresses which improvements possess many features of novelty andinvention which are useful either in combination with each other asdisclosed, or as used sep arately in any type of press. One of thesefeatures is my pressure creating and pressure transmission system.Another is my improved construction for operating and timing my moldopening, filling, and closing` means. Many other features of noveltywill be explained hereinafter.

rlhe drawing shows a diagrammatic view of the press.

In the embodiment of my invention disclosed in this drawing the drivingpulley 1, driven by a belt from any suitable source of power such as amotor, is shown keyed on the shaft 2, to which is keyed the pinion 3.The pinion 3 meshes with the gear 4 keyed on the timing shaft 5. Thetiming and pressure actuating shaft 5 is provided with acrank 6. A.connecting rod 7 connects said crank with a displacing plunger 8 which,reciprocates in a part of a chamber 9 of the hydraulic cylinder 10. 1nlieu of the crank 6, I may, without departing from the spirit of myinvention, use any other suitable pressure actuator preferably onehaving a nfixed throw, as, for example, an eccentric or cam, alteringthe connection with the plunger 8 to correspond. The hydraulic cylinder10 is provided with pressure responsive means herein shown as a ram 11although a diaphragm may be -used without departing from the spirit ofmy invention.

The receptacle or chamber between the displacing plunger 8 and the ram11 is filled with a normally substantially constant body or fixedquantity of liquid which serves to Y transmit pressure imparted by thedisplacing plunger to the ram, and also, by reason of the larger surfaceof the ram serves to increase or multiply the pressure so transmitted.1t will be seen that revolution of the timing shaft 5 will producereciprocation. of the ram 11 and that the pressure applied to thedisplacing plunger 8 will be multiplied when transmitted to the ram 11in .the same ratio as the respective areas of the displacing plunger andram. In order that excessive resistance to compressive movement of theram may not stall the timing shaft or break any of the parts, and alsoto provide a dwell or period of high compression, l have providedautomatic pressure determining, or controlling means, which, in theembodiment herein disclosed, comprises a sliding bed 12 reciprocable onthe bed of the press, on which sliding bed is mounted the actuatingmotor, the shaft 2, the shaft 5 and hence the crankt. Cooperating withthis sliding bed is a steam cylinder 13 provided with a piston 14C and apiston rod 15 connected to the sliding bed 12 in such a manner thatfluid pressure in one end of the cylinder 18 will tend to keep the bed12 in its position nearest the hydraulic cylinder 10 except when apredetermined resistance to inward motion of the displacing plunger hasbeen reached. rllhis, as may be readily seen, will be reached only whena predetermined resistance is opposed to compressing movement of the ram11. When this occurs, the displacing plunger 8 will stop its inwardstroke and the sliding bed 12 will be forced back by further rotation ofthe shaft 5 against the pressure of the fluid in the fluid pressurecylinder 13.

Thebefore described mechanism consti tutes one form of compensatingmeans to compensate or provide for a longer or shorter stroke of thedisplacing plunger against the liquid in case of varying amounts ofmaterial in the mold and consequently varying resistances to themovement of the displacing plunger.

It will be noted that in the embodiment herein described the actuatorand its accessories are made movable bodily with the sliding bed but itis evident that these parts might be fixed and the remainder of thepress made movable on a sliding bed withother` plastic material. I haveshown in the and mold cover.

In the embodiment herein described in` 0 ing neck 21 and the mold coverout departing from the spirit of lmy invention.

The cylinder 10, the displacing plunger 8 and the fluid pressurecylinder 13 and the amount of liquid in the chamber 9 are all soproportioned that the pressure at which the bed'begins to, move awayfrom the cylinder 10 may be normally reached before the displacingplunger 8 reaches the end of its stroke.

The pressure system one form of whichis herein disclosed is designedprimarily to cooperate with an automatically operating mold, for theVcompression of blocks, bricks,4

tiles and the like, made from asphaltic or drawings a mold containingmember 17 having a mold 18 and connected to the hydraulic cylinder 10 bybolts 18a, and a plunger 19 operable by the ram 11 through the member19a. To lill this mold 18, to cover it when the material therein isbeing pressed and .to uncover it when said mold is being emptied, it isnecessary to provide operating means to change the relative position ofthe mold .1 which a sliding mold cover is used, I have shown a slidinghead 20 containing the lillor pressure receiving block 22. In theembodiment shown, it is necessary that the sliding head 20 should beautomatically movable into three positions respectively, for iilling asshown in the drawing, for pressing with the pressure receiving block 22covering the mold and` for ejection with the head removed from over themold entirely. In the embodiment herein described, I accomplish this bythe use of two fluid pressure cylinders.V Of these one shown at 24contains the piston 25 operating the piston 26,- the piston 25 having astroke limiting means herein lshown as the tail rod 27, the link 28 andthe fixed pin 29 attached to any suitable y and convenient support. Imay use a crank or any other suitable stroke limiting device withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention. In the embodiment of myinvention shown, the piston rod 26 is not attached to the sliding headbut abuts against it. Another Huid pressure cylinder 30 is provided witha piston 31, a piston rod,32 connected to the head,I and the tail rod 33provided with stroke limiting means herein f shown as the link 34 andthe ixed pin attached to any suitable support.

The operation of the head moving means may be timed as follows: On thetiming shaft 5which asshown in that embodiment of my inventionillustrated in the drawings also operates as the crank shaft ofthe pressare mounted any suitable cams or other well known mechanical device ormeans. Of

5- these one, through any suitable connection,

der only.

from the ejecting a part of which is shown at 38 and one embodiment ofwhich will hereafter be explained more fully, operates the slide valve39 in the valve chest 40 which controls the inlet and outlet of steam orfluid pressure from the cylinder 24. Fluid pressure is preferablyadmitted to one end of this cylin- Jany suitable inlet may admit steamto the valve chest 40, and any suitable exhaust port 41 may serve toexhaust steam from the cylinder 24. Another cam or` the like on theshaft 5, through any suitable connection, 'a part of which is shown at43, operates the slide valve 44 in the steam valve chest 4.5. This slidevalve 44 controls the admission and exhaust of steam from the oppositeends of the cylinder 30. The exhaust pipe 46 is preferably provided witha safety valve 47 so that when one end of the cylinder is exhausting, arelatively low pressure will still be maintained therein. This serves tomaintain a low pressure in the end G0 of the cylinder -30 when the steampressure in the cylinder 24 is moving the sliding head into pressingposition and prevents any momentum acting' to continue movement of saidsliding head after the piston 25 has completed its stroke.

After the compression of the block in the mold and the uncovering videejection or mold emptying means preferably operated by Huid pressure. Inthe embodiment of my invention herein disclosed, I accomplish this by aiiuid pressure operated ejecting cylinder 48 having a piston 4Sa and thepiston rod 48" operating through the connecting rod 49 on the bell crank50 pivoted on the shaft 5l which operates to lift the member 19a and theplunger 19 to eject the block. The point to which the plunger is to beraised by this fluid pressure cylinder is determined by any suitablestroke limiting device herein shown as lugs having set screws 52, whichmay be adjusted to allow the plunger to be elevated to such a heightonly as to be Hush with the top of the mold containing member 17. Steamis admitted and exhausted cylinder 4S by means of .a slide valve 53located in any suitable valve chest 54. The slide valve 53 is preferablyoperated by a cam on the timing shaft 5. In order that the operation ofthis cam oh the timing shaft 5 may not be affected by the change ofposition of the timplane in'which the sliding bed l2 is movable. Springs53C are provided to keep the bar in its position nearest the timingshaft except when'it-is elevated by the cam actof the mold, I proing onits lower surface. When the cam moves this bar the latter remainsparallel to the plane in which the sliding bed moves and transmitsmovement through the connection 58d to the slide valve 53. Theconnections to the slide valves 44 and 39 are preferably of similardesign.

The operation of the press is as follows: In the position shown in thedrawing, the mold has just been filled. F luid pressure is now admittedto the end 57 of the fluid pressure cylinder 24 by movement of the slidevalve 39. The pressure in the cylinder 30 being low, mold member 17 ispushed by the rod 26 until the pin 29 stops the link 28. As explainedbefore, if desired, a relatively low pressure may be maintained in thecylinder 30 to prevent the momentum of the mold member from carrying itpast the desired pressing position. The crank 6 which revolves clockwisenow starts the displacing plunger 8 on its inward travel starting theram 11 on its upward travel. This continues until a predeterminedpressure is reached on the contents of the mold, the pressuredetermining or controlling piston 14 then responds by receding in itscylinder 18 thus permitting the sliding bed 12 carrying lthe pressureactuator to recede thus stopping the displacing plunger 8 on its inwardstroke yet permitting the crank 6 to complete its stroke.

It is manifest, in the embodiment of my invention herein shown, thatnormally from the instant that the resistance to the displacing plungercauses movement of the pressure determining or controlling piston untilthat piston resumes its starting position, after the crank 6 has madethe necessary part of its return stroke, a substantially uniformpredetermined pressure will be maintained upon the contents of the moldthrough the compressing plunger and ram. This pressure will be thusapplied for a period which is believed to be approximately twice thelength of time that a uniform pressure can be maintained upon anypositively actuated hydraulic press of like capacity of the safetyvalve, liquid expulsion type. This increased dwell or period duringwhich a high compression is maintained is valuable to effect a moreperfect compression of the material in the mold.

The pressing operation being completed when the displacing plunger hasreceded sufficiently to relieve all pressure from the material in themold, it is necessary to uncover the mold so that the compressedmaterial may be ejected therefrom. To per form this, steam is admittedto the end 58 of the cylinder 30 by moving its slide valve 44 intoproper position. This causes the head to be moved to its position at theextreme right as allowed by the link 34 and the pin 35. The mold is nowuncovered.

The slide valve 53 is now moved -to a position such that fluid pressureis admitted to the end 59 of the cylinder 48. This, through theconnections before explained, causes the block to be ejected from themold. Fluid pressure is now admitted by slide valve 14e` to the end 60of the cylinder 30. This causes the sliding head to move to the 4extremeleft position allowed by the link 34 and pin 35 in which position theneck 21 registers with the mold 18, the fluid pressure in the cylinder24; having first been exhausted by the action of the slide valve 39. Thefluid pressure is now exhausted from the end 59 of the cylinder 18 andif necessary, other fluid pressure may be admitted to the opposite endof the cylinderl Li8 to assist in allowing the plunger 19 and the member19 to fall and cause the mold to be again filled with impressed materialfrom the neck 21. Any suitable device as shown at 61 may be used to varythe downward stroke of the plunger and hence the amount of materialadmitted to the mold .and the thickness 0f the resultant block.

As will be readily seen by the construction shown in the presentembodiment of my invention, the pressure creating means is actuatedindependently of my mold operating means. By this arrangement, in caseof any obstruction to the sliding head moving or block ejecting means,the pressing power which is very great is not edective to break any ofthe parts, yet they are all relatively timed together. My hydraulictransmission system obviates the necessity for constantly supplying newliquid as is the case with the usual types of mechanically actuatedhydraulic presses which are supplied with safety valves to permit escapeof the liquid when a predetermined pressure is reached. By my system,the main pressure ram is synchronously responsive to every movement ofthe displacing plunger which though mechanically actuated may have avariable travel determined by the resistance opposed thereto. Theconstruction shown, as before explained, also prolongs the dwell duringwhich the material is subjected to its maxi mum pressure, because themaximum pres sure is continued during the stroke of pressure controllingplunger in both directions, normally continuing during a part of thestroke of the crank actuator in both directions. l preferably provide areplenishing pump 62 adapted to replace any liquid which may leak orescape from the chamber 9.

While I have shown an improvement in pressure-imparting mechanisms, suchimprovement is not claimed in this application but is claimed in mycopending, divi sional application Serial No. 114,710, filed August 14:,1916.

Having thus described one embodiment of my invention, I wish itunderstood that mold; a mold cover my invention isnot'limited to theconstructions andconibinations herein shown and described but What Idesire to claim broadly by Letters Patent is set forth in the followingclaims 1. A press comprising vin combination a and automatically timedfluid pressure means to impart to and tro movement to change therelative position vof saidmold and mold cover intothree or more relativepositions.

2. A press comprising in combination a mold; a mold cover; a moldplunger; compressing means; a plurality of fluid actuated pistons withpiston containing means there for to transversely change the relativeposition of said mold and mold cover into three or more relativepositions, and automatic timing means to time such relative change ofposition. v

3. A press comprising in combination a mold; a mold cover; a pluralityof fluid actuated pistons operating in cylinders to change the relativeposition of said mold and mold cover; a safety valve for the eX- haustof one of said l'cylinders to maintain a low pressure in said cylinderwhen said cylinder is open to said exhaust, whereby said low pressuremay prevent undesired relative movem nt of said mold and mold cover.

4. A press comprising in combination a mold; a mold cover; operatingmeans comprising fluid pressure means to cha-nge the relative positionof said mold and said mold cover into three or more relative positions;a positive mechanical prime mover for said press; common timing means,to time the operation vof said operating means and said -prime mover,and independent actuators for said operating means and said prime mover.

5. A press comprising in combination a mold; a. mold cover; operatingmeans comprising fluid pressure means to change the relative position ofsaid mold and said mold cover; fluid pressure emptying means; a positivemechanical prime mover for said press; common timing means to time theoperation of said operating means, said mold emptying means and saidprime mover, and independent power actuators for said operating means;said mold emptying means and said prime mover.

6. A press comprising in combination a mold; a mold cover; operatingmeans to move relatively said mold and said mold cover into a pluralityof positions, said operating means comprising a [luid pressure cylinderand stroke limiting means exterior to said cylinder to determine therelative p0- Sitions of rest of said mold and mold cover by limiting thestroke of the piston in said cylinder.

7. A press comprising in combination a mold; a mold cover; operatingmeans to move relatively said mold and said mold cover into a pluralityof positions, said operating means comprising a Huid pressure cylinderand stroke limiting means to dctermine the relative positions of rest ofsaid mold and mold cover by limiting the stroke of the piston in saidcylinder.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

PRESTON UPI-IAM.

Witnesses:

ROBERT H. KAMMLER, F. IRENE CHANDLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by .addressingthe Commissioner of Patenti.

L Washington, D. C.

